A self-proclaimed pir (religious preacher), who claimed himself to be Imam Mahdi, his son and four disciples were slaughtered in a house in the capital’s Gopibagh last evening.
The dead were Lutfor Rahman, 55, his son Monir Hossain, 32, disciples Manju Ahmed, 30, Md Shahin, 30, Md Rubel Mia, 32, and Mujibar Rahman, 32.
At least six women and children including Lutfor’s wife and his daughter-in-law were found alive in the six-room apartment on the 1st floor of the four-storey Aina Villa in Abhoy Das Lane on the Ramkrishna Mission Road.
Pir Lutfor Rahman had two sons, including the deceased one, and another son Abdulla, yet to be traced.
All the bodies were tied with ropes Pir and five others and their mouths wrapped up in tape.Quoting the rescued women and children, Mehedi Hasan, additional deputy commissioner (ADC) of Wari police, said a group of seven-eight people first knocked at the door, saying they were chased by police and needed shelter.
After entering the room, the gang held the members of the house at gunpoint and told them that they had come to rob and kill them.
Before killing, they also ate puffed rice, according to the women.
“The killers first tied them with ropes and wrapped their mouths in tape. The women and children were asked not to make any sound, otherwise they would be killed,” Mehedi said.
Lutfor Rahman and his son were killed in one room and the other four in another. The women and children had been confined in a separate room.
Quoting the women and children, the police official added that the six were killed in a matter of minutes and the killer left immediately after the killing.
Police detained six persons for questioning from a mess located on the ground floor of the building
“We are yet to be certain whether the murder was part of a robbery or whether it was a result of previous enmity,” the ADC said.
“We are interrogating the women and children who witnessed the murders, and the other residents of the building.”
Building owner Shirin Akhter, wife of Deputy Secretary Waliur Rahman of the Education Ministry, said they used to reside in different houses in Tikatuli and came to know about the murder from a security guard of the building.
“Lutfor’s son Monir came to rent the house,” said Shirin.
Pir Lutfor Rahman had long been claiming himself to be Imam Mahdi as well as the last Nobi (Prophet) and his residence came under attack several times by extreme Islamists.
Different Islamist organisations like Islami Shashantantra Andolan, Khelafat Andolan, Khelafat Majlish and Islami Oikya Parishad staged demonstrations in Baitul Mukarram National Mosque area several times between 2007 and 2009.
ADC Mehedi Hasan said Lutfor was arrested at least three times by police and Rab in 2007, 2009 and 2011.
Asked, the ADC said they were yet to be sure whether such claims by Lutfor were linked to his murder along with five others, but added, “We have also taken the matter under consideration which might pave the way for investigation.”
Hailing from Bhuwapur in Tangail district, Lutfor had been arrested by Detective Branch of police on October 14 in 2011 for his claim and a case was also filed against him with Shahbagh police station on charges of hurting religious sentiments in 2009.
Moreover, he had to suffer imprisonment in 20007 for the same reason and once he had been manhandled by a group of people in the capital’s Jatrabari.
On May 21 in 2005, Lutfor and three of his followers had been admitted to the DMCH after sustaining injuries in a clash at Bibir Bagicha of Demra between local people and his followers.
He had also circulated leaflets claiming himself to be Imam Mahdi who, according to the belief of a sect of Muslims, would revive Islam from its sad state.